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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andrew Newport

Gio van Bronckhorst demands no Rangers excuses as boss out to silence Celtic with Europa League triumph

Rangers' continental club is so exclusive it’s membership list extends to just one name.

Legendary Ibrox boss Willie Waddell is the only man to have successfully gained admission after guiding Gers to their one and only European prize with his team’s 1972 Cup Winners’ Cup triumph.

Before that, Scot Symon was the first to submit an entry application through the same competition.

Twice, though, he would fall at the final hurdle, first against Fiorentina in 1961 and then to Bayern Munich six years later, as he was denied him his place in history.

It would be 2008 before anyone else had a serious go at forcing their way into the gilded halls reserved for those who able to bring European conquest to Ibrox.

Again, the later, great Walter Smith would suffer the same fate as Symon after Zenit St Petersburg whipped away the membership card he so desired following their UEFA Cup tussle in Manchester.

Now, 50 years on from Waddell s crowning moment in Barcelona, it’s Gio van Bronckhorst’s turn.

And the significance of the moment is not lost on the Dutchman as he prepares for next Wednesday’s Europa League date with destiny against Frankfurt in Seville.

“It means a lot,” said the 2006 Champions League winner. “I’ve had experiences as a player winning major trophies, it’s always a good feeling.

“As a manager it’s the same, I had success in winning major prizes.

“We have the chance now to win prizes for Rangers so I’m very honoured to be able to play in these finals.

“There aren’t many managers in the history of this club to have played in a European final, there is only one who has won it.

“It would be fantastic to win a second prize for this club.

“I don’t think you have favourites in finals. It can go either way, they say 50-50.

“But I am confident that we can give a good performance and give ourselves the best possible chance of winning it.

“We play against a good team, but we have played against strong opponents and beat them.

“It’s two historic teams playing against each other and it’s a very exciting final.”

There have been sticky moments during Van Bronckhorst’s tenure so far.

Next Wednesday’s finale will mark six months exactly to the day since the former Feyenoord coach returned to the club he spent four years with as a player.

The fact his team have made it so far in Europe has no doubt hushed the murmurs that were beginning to grow as van Bronckhorst’s side surrendered a healthy title lead.

But there’s also no denying the fact that the longer the 47-year-old has had to work with this side, the more assured they have become.

Van Bronckhorst - who also look to end Gers’ 13-year Scottish Cup hoodoo in the final with Hearts a week on Saturday - said: “We’re playing really well. You see in the last months how many games we have played in Europe and domestically.

“We’re maybe the team that has played the most this season.

“We had difficult periods, with a lot of big games after each other. We had Braga and then the cup game against Celtic was one of those moments.

“But the players did very well both physically and mentally.

“We are very strong and in a good position to play two big games at the end of the week.

“It feels really good to be in the Europa League final. But I think you will have a better feeling if you win the final.

“That’s all we have to do. We haven’t achieved anything yet.

“But everything is there to play well against Frankfurt next week and to be a part of the history of this club.”

The Rangers support hope to have a night to remember next week, not least to hush the jubilant Celtic fans who have spent this week celebrating the return of Premiership gold to Parkhead.

“Of course we are disappointed we didn’t win the championship,” confessed the Ibrox boss. “But we have to give credit to Celtic and Ange Postecoglou and the run they had in the league.

“That’s tough sport. You want to win prizes and in the end if you fell short you have to make sure you’ll bounce back the next season.

“We are here now to make a very positive last week with a European final and a cup final.

“For next season we have to push ourselves hard to become champions of Scotland.

“It’s football, you win and you lose. It’s always a case to bounce back when you don’t win a prize.”

Gers will hope Kemar Roofe’s powers of recovery shine through, with the striker still for now a major doubt to make next week’s do-or-die clash in southern Spain.

All Van Bronckhorst can do is keep fingers crossed.

He said: “He’s not training with the team at the moment, we’re trying to get him on the pitch hopefully at the weekend but he is doing everything.

“I really admire his desire to be ready for the game on Wednesday.

“We’re pushing him hard but it's one of those injuries where it is a close call and hopefully he can make some positive steps in the coming days.”

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